A Baldwin Wallace student has recently been awarded a major HPE scholarship, being one of four Ohio students to earn this honor.

Senior Madeline Ziccardi, a health and physical education major, received the 2017 Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (OAHPERD) Student Memorial Scholarship. 

The scholarship is available to all senior students within Ohio colleges and universities and is awarded based on OAHPERD participation, scholarship, leadership, community service, and goal statements of the applicants. 

Ziccardi’s trail to success for this award has involved her being a member of the Track and Field team, where she participates in the weight throw, shot put, and the hammer throw, which she says is her favorite.  

Additionally, Ziccardi is the vice president of the Health & Physical Education Club and is currently completing her student teaching at Strongsville Middle School as well as being employed at the Lou Higgins Recreation Center.  

According to Ziccardi, she received the information notifying her of winning via email just a month after applying. 

“I was elated and humbled to receive this scholarship knowing that only four students were chosen from Ohio for this award,” she said. “My fellow scholarship recipients had exceptional standings at their respected colleges or universities, and I am honored to represent BW in this light.”  

Ziccardi accredits much of her success to the Health, Physical Education, and Sports Sciences faculty, especially Kerry Bebie, assistant professor at BW. Bebie has been Ziccardi’s advisor, professor, and mentor for all four years of her undergraduate career.  

“[Bebie] is full of great ideas, critical suggestions, and is always there to get you on the right track when you need it,” said Ziccardi. “I feel that she has shaped me into the teacher I have become and pointed my passions in the right direction.” 

Ziccardi also says that she feels prepared, confident, and well equipped to get the job done within her student teaching because of Bebie’s mentoring. 

The faculty of the School of Health, Physical Education and Sports Sciences are proud of Ziccardi for receiving this honor, according to associate dean Amy Jo Sutterluety.  

“Maddie’s dedication to the rigorous, demanding, and engaging curriculum in the health and physical education major set her apart from the other candidates,” said Sutterluety.  

Ziccardi used the scholarship to pay for the expenses of her teacher licensing exams, as well as tuition.   

According to Ziccardi, following graduation she hopes to become a health and physical education teacher and earn her master’s degree in educational leadership, eventually becoming a school administrator.